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1. Solaroil to banish the bane of your existence — weak and brittle nails with cuticles that look like they were mauled by a wild animal. Just massage this oil into your nails and cuticles every night before going to bed and, with daily use, your nails will begin to grow and strengthen.
2. A formaldehyde-free Zoya polish designed with a wider brush, meaning you can disperse more polish onto your nail with just 👏 one 👏 stroke 👏. The brush also fans out a teeny bit, allowing for application onto the pesky corners of your nail.
3. A Seche Vite bundle because the manicure you painstakingly complete today should not be chipped by *insert frustrated sigh* tomorrow. This base and top coat duo work in harmony to protect your nail beds from stains while also promoting a shiny, longer-lasting mani.
4. Decal stickers for custom nail art you’ll find yourself admiring constantly. “Thanks, I did this myself” will be a constant convo starter to anyone you encounter, even though they did not ask and most certainly do not care.
5. An Essie polish available in a staple color that will never let you down: WICKED. This deep red hue is sure to become the ~little [almost] black dress~ of your manicure routine, with a high gloss finish that won't clash with whatever you're wearing. Ever.
6. A clear Mavala Switzerland polish purposely designed to have a bitter taste, the kind that will make even the most chronic nail biter think twice before snacking on a finger. Less nail biting = stronger nails, faster growth, healthier cuticles, and a longer-lasting manicure.
7. A daily Cuccio oil you'll want to keep on hand if you're a gel manicure connoisseur (which, let's face it, destroys nail beds one acetone soak at a time). This blend of safflower, sunflower, and cotton seed oils works OT to strengthen your nails and hydrate your cuticles.
8. A Tweezerman kit for anyone who's never sitting still. This clipper, file, and cuticle pusher comes packaging in a convenient little travel case, making it the perfect thing to store in your work purse or travel carry-on. (Because the only thing worse than having a hangnail is having a hangnail while on vacation.)
9. Pre-cut foil with cotton pads in the middle. Their use? To soak off your gel manicure — the one you've already had for three weeks and is starting to peel/catch in your hair when you shower. You haven't had time to make it to the salon before it closes and that is FINE, because you can just remove it yourself.
10. A Sally Hansen two-step gel system (featuring a color base and top coat) that provides all the benefits of your typical gel mani; lasts up to two weeks, has amazing shine, no chips after .5 seconds of wear. But the best part? It doesn't require a UV lamp and can be taken off with regular remover — no soaking required!
11. OPI drying drops that layers your mani with jojoba and vitamin e, creating a barrier that both nourishes and protects your nails whilst they're still drying. Hasta la vista, pillow smudges! You'll no longer we be ruining my carefully applied polish.
12. A cuticle guard for DIY nail art aficionados (dammit Pinterest) and messy painters alike. Apply this latex formula around your nail bed, let it dry, and then proceed with your regularly scheduled mani — once that's done, just peel off the latex and say goodbye to the unruly polish residing on your skin.
13. A quick-drying OPI top coat formulated by a magician (and several scientists) to transform your at-home mani from drab to fab. Just a single swipe of this and voilà! Your nails are now matte. Shine be damned.
14. Color Street polish strips you simply press on, file, and go — no drying time required. Plus, they're available in a whole host of designs which make it perfect for anyone who *wants* one of those fancy manicures they've seen on Instagram, but can't fork over that kind of cash (#ONEDAY).
15. A CND finishing spray to speed up the whole "house paint dries faster than my nails" process. Just give your freshly-painted mani a quick spritz, and they'll be hardened in about ten minutes. No more chips, smudging, or tears due to effing up your nails whilst fishing in your purse for car keys!
16. A buffer block capable of turning your nail beds into a clean canvas free of polish stains. It takes just three easy steps; file, smooth, and shine. The result is heathy, glowing nail beds that look like they were given a fresh coat of clear polish (and probably drink a ton of water on the daily).
17. A Zoya polish remover that actually won't destroy your poor, defenseless, already-pretty-darn-weak nails. In fact, this gentle formula will actually condition and prep 'em for a fresh coat of lacquer while the pump bottle prevents spillage and makes it super easy to apply product onto a cotton ball.
18. A tweexy ring because that bottle is *not* empty, the brush is just too short to reach the polish that's trapped at the bottom. This ring allows you to tilt the bottle and scoop up product, all while being held firmly in place on your finger. Translation? No more dark red polish spills on your shaggy white rug.
19. A concentrated O'Keeffe's moisturizing cream ideal for dry, cracked hands in desperate need of some TLC. This water, glycerin, and paraffin formula is used (and loved) by everyone from construction workers to people with eczema.
20. A pusher and trimmer duo here to banish unruly cuticles to the pits of HECK. The trimmer features an ergonomic handle that makes it comfortable to hold, the pusher has a ~handy~ anti-slip design, both tools are made from surgical stainless steel, and the set even comes with a zip bag for easy storage.
21. Kiss nail adhesives for the person who'd rather do one million push-ups than wait for their polish to dry. With these, you just peel, press on, and that is it: no more sitting in salon chairs, no more bed sheet marks because the polish never dried properly.
22. A Sundays nail polish that is vegan, cruelty-free, non-toxic, and *doesn't* contain any of the chemicals found in most polish brands. The formula is also super long-lasting and the pigment is intense, meaning you can get away with just one swipe of color if you're in a time crunch.
23. Precision point cotton swabs capable of getting into all the crevices of your nail beds. The kind of crevices that polish spills into, resulting in a home manicure that was very clearly done at home. Just soak these in some polish remover and swipe away any mani mistakes! Easy peasy.
Looking at your chipped manicure as you type away at your work desk like:
Want more for your beauty routine? Check out these products for color-treated hair, this list of problem-solving products, the best under-$10 drugstore beauty products, or browse the rest of our beauty section for recommendations on everything from makeup to haircare.
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